Motion-transmitting device



July 21, 1964 R. H. wlsE: .3,141,562

MOTION-TRANSMITTING DEVICE Filed oct. 2, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENToR. RALPH H. W/sE BYRQLNQLDKM ATTORNEYS July 2l, 1964 R. H. wlsE 3,141,662

MOTION-TRANSMITTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 2, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. RALPH H. WISE maw# mu A TTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,141,662 MTEN-TRANSMETEENG DEVKCE Ralph H. Wise, Davis island, Tampa, Fia., assigner, by

mesne assignments, to r:The Anderson Company, a corporatien of indiana Fiied Get. 2, 1957, Ser. No. 687,677 3 Claims. (Cl. 26S- 3) This invention relates to a motion-transmitting mechanism and more particularly to a mechanism wherein a driven member is freely rotatable when the mechanism is inoperative and is rotatably driven with `a predetermined limited capacity when the mechanism is opera-tive.

The present device comprises a reversibly driven input member which operates through a planetary-type arrangement wherein an output member is driven from the carrier of the planetry arrangement. The ring-type element of the planetary arrangement is free to rotate under one set of conditions wherein the output element is freely rotatable in either direction. When said ring is locked against rotation, the drive is from the input member through the planetary arrangement to the output member. A structural feature is built into said ring-type element to permit freewheeling of the output member when a predetermined load is exceeded. Many different applications can be found for a device of this type.

For instance, in current models of automotive vehicles, it is necessary for the driver of the vehicle to lean across the front seat to release the latch to open the door, all of which is quite inconvenient, particularly with the wide front seats of the present-day vehicles. Many devices have been proposed for automatically opening a vehicle door without the use of manual power. All of these devices have met with failure due to the complexity of the system, due to the high cost of engineering and producing the proposed device, or due to the inefficient or inoperative characteristics of the device.

The requirements placed by the automotive manufacturers on such a device necessitate that, by actuation of a two-way switch, the door lock and latch will be released and the door will slowly be automatically opened. In the event the door strikes an obstruction, such as a curb or tree, it is necessary that the mechanism freewheels or in some other way stops further opening of the door so as to prevent damage both to the door and to the driving mechanism. The output shaft of the device must be freely rotatable when the device is inoperative so that the door may be opened by hand in the well-known way.

The electrical appliance eld has a similar set of problems wherein it is desired to have switch-operated mechanism for opening and closing a door, or drawer, such as a refrigerator door or freezer compartment drawer, such that, when a resistance of a predetermined amount is encountered by the door or drawer as it is being opened or closed, such resistance will stop the movement of the door or drawer until the obstruction is removed. The device must permit the door or drawer to be operated manually without the addition of undue forces.

These and many other applications for the mechanism of the instant invention are possible and will be obvious to persons skilled in the art.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an improved motion-transmitting mechanism capable of slowly operating an output member or element from a remotely controlled position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a motion-transmitting mechanism that will permit the output shaft to freewheel when a resistance of a predetermined amount is encountered.

3,141,662 Patented July 21, 1964 ice A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved motion-transmitting mechanism wherein the output shaft is freely rotatable when the motion-transmitting mechanism is inoperative.

And a still further object of this invention is to provide an improved door opening mechanism wherein the door is unlatched and opened from a remote position.

And still a further object of this invention is to provide an improved door opening mechanism wherein manual operation of the door is permitted.

And another object of this invention is to provide an improved motion-transmitting mechanism that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, ecient in operation, easily maintained, and has a long operative life.

These and other objects of this invention will appear more fully from the following specification and drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a motion-transmitting mechanism of the instant invention shown in section;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective View of an automotive vehicle door showing one of the improved motion-transmitting mechanisms in operative position thereon;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic wiring diagram in combination with a schematic showing of a vehicle door latch mechanism; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a refrigerator door showing the motion-transmitting mechanism installed in operative position for opening and closing same.

For convenience of illustration, the present invention is disclosed in connection with an automotive vehicle door and a refrigerator door, although it may be adapted to actuate many different devices having problems similar to those of a door-operating mechanism.

FIGURES l and 2 illustrate the improved power-transmitting mechanism by itself wherein numeral 1t) designates a housing having an end plate 11 bolted thereto. An output shaft 12 extends from the opposite end portions of the housing 10 through a sleeve bearing 13 on one end and a radial and axial thrust bearing 14 of the type shown and described in my copending application, Serial No. 536,515 led September 26, 1955, now Patent No. 2,966, 069 issued December 27, 1960, on the other end. Attached to the ends of the output shaft 12 is -a pair of arm or link members 15 which are adapted to be connected to the various link mechanisms for operating some loadcarrying device. A power mechanism or reversible motor 18 is mounted on the side of the housing such that the shaft 19 extends into the housing and has a worm gear 2t) keyed to the outer end portion thereof in operative connection with a worm wheel 22 which is fastened by means of set screw 23 to a rotatable sleeve or input member 24 concentrically positioned about the output shaft throughout a major portion of the inner section of the housing. The sleeve 24 is free to rotate in either direction relative to the output shaft 12 and has a pair of axially spaced concave raceways 25 formed around the outer periphery thereof.

A carrier or cage member 27 is telescopically received over a portion of the sleeve 24 and is keyed at 28 to the output shaft 12 for simultaneous rotation therewith. The carrier 27 has a plurality of elongate slots 30 formed in an axial direc-tion therein such that the axes of the slots lie substantially parallel to the axis of the output shaft. A plurality of rotatably mounted load-transmitting bearing members 32 are positioned in said slots 3@ about the perpihery of the sleeve 24 such that the toroidal bearing surfaces 33 thereof engage in the raceways 25 in the sleeve 24.

A ring-type element or tubular member 35 is positioned around the carrier 27 and has an end plate 36 riveted at 37 to the end of said tubular member to position a raceway 39 in engagement with an outer toroidal surface of one of the bearing portions 33 of the Abearing members 32. The raceway 39 is fixed relative to the tubular member 35 so as to rotate therewith. A collar 4i) is directed radially inwardly along the other end portion of the tubularrnember 35 for engaging one end of a compression spring 42 which has its other end bearing against an axially slidable raceway 43, said raceway 43 bearing against the outer toroidal surface of a different bearing portion 33 of the bearing members 32.

The tubular member 35 is freely rotatable about the sleeve 24 with theV bearing elements 32 freely rolling therebetween. A brake 45 is positioned around the outer periphery of the tubular member 35 and comprises an outer metal band 44 with a friction element 44 fastened on the inner surface which is adapted to engage the outer surface of the tubular member for holding the tubular member against rotation. A pair of ears 46, 47 depend from the end portions of the band 44 in peripherallyspaced relation with a spring 43 acting between said ears to hold said brake Ain a disengaged condition. The ear 46 bears against a shoulder 5@ in the housing with a guide pin 49 extending from the shoulder 59 through both ears 46, 47 and spring 48 with a head 51 on the one end of the pin 49 bearing against the ear 47 for positionling said ears relative to the tubular member 35. A cam member 52 mounted on the end of a rotatable shaft 53 has a raised portion 54 positioned in such a way that rotation of said shaft 53 urges the head 51 on the pin 49 and ear 47 against the action of the spring 49 toward the ear 46 for locking the brake 45 against the tubular member 35 to prevent rotation of the tubular member relative to the housing. The shaft 53 is journaled in the housing and has a lever arm 56 keyed to one end portion in such a way that movement of the forked outer end 57 of said arm 56 will rotate the cam as above described. A solenoid member S is mounted on the outside of the housing and has a reciprocating core 59 extending from the central portion thereof into engagement with a pin 60 slidably disposed in a slot 61 in the end 57 of the arm 56. A spring 63 bears against the side of the solenoid 53 and against a collar 64 pinned to the core 59 such as to urge the core in the extended or outer position when the solenoid is de-activated. In the extended position of the core 59, the brake will be in the released position of FIGURE 2 and will permit the tubular member 35 to rotate freely about the carrier 27, sleeve 24 and shaft 12.

In the operation of the above-described mechanism with the motor de-activated, the output shaft 12 is freely rotatable relative to the housing in either direction without in any way applying any load to the input sleeve 24. That is, when the shaft 12 is rotated with the brake 45 inoperative, the carrier 27 and ring element 35 will rotate on the bearing elements 32 in the raceways 25 of the sleeve 24. Since there is no reactive force in the ring element, no rotative forces will be transmitted to the sleeve 24 so that the shaft 12 is freely rotatable relative to the sleeve 24. However, upon actuation of Vthe motor 18 in either direction, the solenoid 58 is likewise energized for applying the brake 45 to lock the tubular member 35 against rotation. As the motor drives the input sleeve 24, the bearing elements 32 will planetate about the xed raceways 39 and 43 and will drive the carrier and output shaft 12 at a reduced speed. Upon the output shaft meeting with a resistance in excess of a predetermined amount, the bearing elements 32 will cause the raceway 43 to overcome the pressure of the spring 42 and will start to rotate whereupon the carrier 27 will freewheel relative to the input shaft 24. The output shaft 12 will cease to turn until the resistance met by the output shaft 12 has been removed.

To apply this motion-transmitting mechanism in any one of several different devices is a simple matter and one practical use is illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. FIG- URE 3 illustrates the motion-transmitting mechanism installed in the body of an automotive vehicle in operative position relative to the passenger door of the vehicle. FIGURE 4 illustrates an operative wiring diagram for use with a device as shown in FGURE 3.

In FIGURE 3, the motion-transmitting housing 1t) is mounted with the output shaft 12 in a vertical position so that the links 15 are pivotally connected with links 7@ fastened to the hinge wall of a vehicle door such that rotation of the output shaft 12 will pivot the door about the hinges 71 to an opened or closed position. A wiring harness is connected from the battery 72 and switch 74 to the motion-transmitting mechanism and through the hinge portion of the door to the latching mechanism for operatively connecting the automatic door opening assembly.

Referring particularly to FlGURl-E 4, the battery 72 is conected to the double-throw switch 74 which in turn is connected to the reversible motor 1S, brake operating solenoid 5S and the latch operating solenoid 75. Specifically, the battery 72 is connected by lead 76 to the terminals 77, 73 of the switch 74 which has terminals 79, Si) connected by leads 31, 82 to the terminals S3, 84 of the motor 18. The terminal S5 of the motor is connected through lead 36 to the ground 37 of the system. The blade or contact bar 83 of the switch 74 has a terminal 89 connected by lead 9i? to the solenoid 55 which is likewise connected to ground S7 through lead 86. With the just-described arrangement, the solenoid 55 will be energized every time the motor is energized no matter whether it is in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Connected with the terminal 79 of the switch is a lead 91 which is connected with the latch actuating solenoid 75. The solenoid is connected with ground S7 through lead 86 so that the solenoid 75 is operative only when the motor 18 is Voperative in one direction of rotation.

The door latching mechanism is of any conventional kind, but for the purposes of illustration a very simple mechanism is shown which includes the three operative features of the standard door latching mechanism, namely, the outside release button 96, the inside handle actuated lever 97, and the locking button 98 extending upwardly from within the inner panel of the vehicle door. The operation of the latching mechanism, in brief, provides that when the inside handle 97 is pivotecl, the bell-crank lever 99 will pivot about its pivot point 1% to release the latching mechanism generally indicated as 191. ln the event the locking button 9S is in depressed position as the inside handle 97 is turned, the sloping wall 193 on the bell-crank 99 will cam the locking button 93 upwardly into inoperative position whereupon the bell-crank releases the latch. To open the door from outside the vehicle, the button 96 is pushed inwardly to pivot the bell-crank to unlatch the door. However, when the lock button 98 is in depressed position, the button 96 will strike a depending linger 194- whereupon the door will not be opened until the door key is used or until the button 98 is raised as is conventional practice.

For automatic operation of the door solenoid 75 is mounted in the latching mechanism in such a way that the movable core will engage the bell-crank 99 to release the lock buttonV 9S and unlatch the door in a manner similar to the operation created when the inside handle 97 is used.

Briey explaining the operation of the wiring circuit in combination with the motion-transmitting device of FIGURE l, it is only necessary for the vehicle driver to pivot the blade Si! of the switch 74 either in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction depending upon whether it is desired to open or close the vehicle door automatically. That is, assuming for the moment that the clockwise rotation of the blade 88 starts the door opening operation, the terminals 78, 89 and 79 will be connected from the source of electrical power 72 to the operative parts of the device. In the just-described position of blade S8, current will ow from the battery 72 through lead 76 and terminals 78 and 89 through lead 90 to the brake actuating solenoid 58, and then back to ground 87 through the lead 86. Simultaneously therewith, current will flow from V'the battery 72, terminals 78 and 79 to the motor 18 for driving the motor in a clockwise direction. The motor is grounded through lead 86. Concurrently with the starting of the motor in a clockwise direction and activation of the solenoid 5S, current Will flow through terminal 79 to the solenoid 75 and back to ground through lead 86 for activating said solenoid 75 to unlatch the door. As the motor starts to rotate, the input sleeve 24 will rotate the bearing elements 32 against the stationary raceways 39 and 43 which will rotate the carrier and output shaft 12 for opening the door. In the event the door strikes a curb or other obstruction beside the vehicle, the output shaft will be stalled and will freewheel relative to the rotating input sleeve 24 so as to prevent damage to the door or to the motor. This freewheeling is created by overcoming the resistance of the raceway 43 against the preloaded spring. By rotating the switch 74 in the opposite direction, the solenoid '75 will not operate since it is not needed, however, the solenoid 58 Will lock the brake 45 relative to the tubular member 35 so that the motor can drive the output shaft 12 in the opposite direction for closing the vehicle door.

With the switch in the neutral position as shown in FIGURE 4, neither the solenoids 58 and 75 nor the motor 18 will be operative such that when either the outside release button 96 or inside handle 97 are operated with a view to opening the door manually the output shaft 12 will freewheel since the tubular member 35 is free to rotate relative to the input shaft, whereupon the door can be opened just as if no mechanical device were attached thereto.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the use of my improved powertransmission mechanism in combination with the door of a refrigerator wherein a two-Way switch 120 is operative to drive the power-transmission mechanism in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The links 1S on the output shaft 12 are pivotally connected to the links 121 carried by the door 125 of the refrigerator such as to open or close the door as the power-transmission mechanism is operated. The latch mechanism and solenoid 75 can be eliminated in those refrigerators where a magnetic catch is in use which will simplify the wiring of the device. Operation of the switch 120 to the door-opening position will drive the input sleeve 24 for rotating the bearing elements 32 against the locked tubular member 35 so that the carrier 27 will drive the output shaft 12 for opening the refrigerator door. In the event the door 125 strikes an obstruction, the spring 42 will permit the bearing elements 32 to turn the raceway 43 therewith so as to freewheel the output shaft 12 relative to the input sleeve 24, whereupon the door will not move further until the obstruction is removed without damaging the door or the power-transmission mechanism therein.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that I have provided an improved power-transmitting mechanism wherein the output shaft is freely rotatable when the motor is inoperative and wherein the output shaft is driven with a predetermined load-carrying capacity in either one direction or the other for opening or closing or reversely operating a particular mechanism. In the event the load on the output shaft 12 exceeds a predetermined amount, the device is constructed in such a way as to permit freewheeling between the output shaft and the input shaft so as to prevent damage to the 6 device being moved or to the motor operating the mechanism.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various other modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact forms, constructions, arrangements and combinations of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle body having an opening, a door hingedly mounted in said opening, and latch means for releasably holding the door closed relative to said body, the combination of means for automatically opening and closing said door comprising a motion-transmitting mechanism mounted in said body adjacent the hinged side of said door, an output shaft extending through the mechanism and beyond the opposite ends thereof, link means carried by said shaft and connected with said door, a sleeve surrounding said shaft in said mechanism, means for rotating said sleeve about said shaft, a pair of axially spaced raceways formed in the outer surface of said sleeve, carrier means surrounding a portion of said sleeve and iixedly attached to said output shaft, roller means nested in openings in said carrier and seating in said raceways in said sleeve, freely rotatable cylindrically-shaped means surrounding said carrier means and being rotatable simultaneously thereabout and with respect thereto, raceways carried by the inner surface of said cylindrical means in engagement with said roller means, brake means loosely surrounding said cylindrical means and having end portions depending therefrom, means operable on said end portions of the brake means for engaging the brake means to prevent rotation of the cylindrical means, and means for releasing the latch means simultaneously with the application of the brake means and rotation of the output shaft whereby the door is automatically opened.

2. In a vehicle body having an opening, a door hingedly mounted in said opening and latch means for releasably holding the door closed relative to said body, the combination of means for automatically opening and closing said door comprising a motion-transmitting mechanism mounted in said body adjacent the hinged side of said door, an output shaft extending through the mechanism and beyond the opposite ends thereof, link means carried by said shaft and connected with said door, an input member telescopically receiving said shaft, means for rotating said member -about said shaft, spaced raceways formed in the outer surface of said member, carrier means surrounding a portion of said member and xedly attached to said output shaft, roller means nested in openings in said carrier and seating said raceways in said member, tubular means surrounding said carrier means and being rotatable simultaneously thereabout and with respect thereto, raceways carried by the inner surface of said tubular means in engagement with said roller means, resilient means for urging said raceways into engagement with said roller means under a predetermined load, brake means loosely surrounding said tubular means, means for engaging the brake means to prevent rotation of the tubular means, and means for releasing the latch means simultaneously with the braking of the tubular means and with rotating the input member whereupon the door is automatically opened.

3. In a vehicle body having an opening and a door hingedly mounted in the opening, means for opening and closing the door comprising: a motion-transmitting mechanism adapted to be mounted in said body adjacent the hinged side of the door and having motion-transmitting arms adapted to be connected to the door for movement o-f the door, said motion-transmitting mechanism having a housing and rotatably receiving therethrough an output member which rotatably receives an input member thereon within the housing, said motiontransmitting arms being connectedat one end to spaced portions of the output member and provided'at their other end withmeans for connection to the door, power means for driving the input member, freely rotatable race means surrounding7 said input and output members and being rotatable simultaneously thereabout and with respect thereto, roller means simultaneously engaging the input member and the race means for driving engagement therebetween, a cage for spacing the roller means peripherally about the input member, said cage connected to the output member for rotation therewith, brake means for operatively engaging and disengaging said'race means for selectively preventing rotation of said race means, electrical means simultaneously energizing said power means and said brake means whereby motion of said input member is transmitted to said output member and to said spaced-apart-motion-transmitting arms for operating the door, said electrical means being de-energizable whereby the output member may be manually pivoted in its housing while the input member is maintained in a nonrotatable position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hohne et al. Feb. 23, Kaiserman May 23, Erban May 18, Ross May 14, Bronander Nov. 26, Garrard Dec. 3, Jacobsen Jan, 6, Grifn July 26, Suomala Feb. 1, Ellis Nov. 29, Gleason J an. 2, Gatesy Apr. 8, Wise July 26, Jackson Mar. 11,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Aug. 26, France Aug. 9,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent N0 3Yl4lv2 July 2lu 1964 Ralph Hn Wise lt is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column Y line 53Y after "seating" insert in Signed and sealed this 30th day of March 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER v EDWARD J. BRENNER A'ttesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN A VEHICLE BODY HAVING AN OPENING, A DOOR HINGEDLY MOUNTED IN SAID OPENING, AND LATCH MEANS FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING THE DOOR CLOSED RELATIVE TO SAID BODY, THE COMBINATION OF MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPENING AND CLOSING SAID DOOR COMPRISING A MOTION-TRANSMITTING MECHANISM MOUNTED IN SAID BODY ADJACENT THE HINGED SIDE OF SAID DOOR, AN OUTPUT SHAFT EXTENDING THROUGH THE MECHANISM AND BEYOND THE OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF, LINK MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SHAFT AND CONNECTED WITH SAID DOOR, A SLEEVE SURROUNDING SAID SHAFT IN SAID MECHANISM, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SLEEVE ABOUT SAID SHAFT, A PAIR OF AXIALLY SPACED RACEWAYS FORMED IN THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID SLEEVE, CARRIER MEANS SURROUNDING A PORTION OF SAID SLEEVE AND FIXEDLY ATTACHED TO SAID OUTPUT SHAFT, ROLLER MEANS NESTED IN OPENINGS IN SAID CARRIER 